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Halloween Tips & Recipes

Halloween Tips & Recipes

Ways to Keep Your Halloween Pumpkins Fresh

Halloween is just around the corner, and we like to celebrate with carved Jack-o’-lanterns for as long as possible. But how do you keep your prized pumpkins looking fresh picked? Here’s our advice for selecting, carving and preserving your masterpiece.

THE PICK // A lasting work of art starts with picking a healthy pumpkin. Follow these three tips to get off to a good start:

Inspect the skin. Try to avoid gouges or blemishes. Knicks, dings and dents might give your creation a little character but they’re also signs that early rot may occur.

Go for local. Avoid the big box stores and go with us or a local patch. You’re supporting a local business and ensuring that your pumpkin hasn’t been battered during shipping.

Poke it. Prod it. Little soft spots mean rotting is already happening. Avoid it. Even the smallest soft spots can invite rotting to happen overnight. Look for pumpkins with even coloring and a firm outside flesh. When you press the pumpkin, it should be firm with no give.

EXTENDING LIFE

Get up in those guts! When you prep your pumpkin for carving, get in there! Scrape and discard as much of the pulp as possible, but save those seeds! The cleaner and drier the insides are the slower it will rot.

Clean it. Use a tablespoon of peppermint dish soap or a few drops peppermint oil in a quart of water. Put it in a spray bottle and shower the inside of your pumpkin. Peppermint is a natural anti fungal agent and will slow down the death of your beloved buddy.

Keep it hydrated. Is your monstrous creation looking a little wrinkled? Give it a bath in a bucket, bin or tub overnight.

Use a fruit fly trap. Much like any other produce you bring into your home, pumpkins attract fruit flies. Drawn to rotting fruit and vegetables, fruit flies will expedite the process, leaving a damaged pumpkin and an infestation behind. Mix apple cider vinegar and dish soap for a poison-free solution to prevent fruit flies.

Do you have any surefire pumpkin tips? We want to hear them. Post to our Facebook or give us a shout out on Instagram.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Make the use of your carved pumpkin seeds by roasting them for an easy, and healthy snack.